
Denver — Ricoh Imaging Americas took a turn toward GoPro Wednesday and officially jumped into the action video camera category with the launch of the Ricoh WG-M1.
Positioned as part of Ricoh’s successful WG action camera segment, the WG-M1 takes a different approach to Ricoh’s previous waterproof, cold-proof, and shock-resistant models by reconfiguring the body to be more easily worn or mounted for action video capture.
As an example of the design change, the 1.5-inch color LCD monitor is positioned on top of the camera to make it easier to check framing from mounted positions.
The WG-M1 will be available in October at a $299 suggested retail.
The WG-M1 features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, a waterproof rating to 32 feet without the need of a separate case, shock-resistance from a fall of 6 feet, and cold-resistance to -10 degrees C.
The camera has an ultra-wide-angle lens and captures FullHD 1080p movies.
Key features of the WG-M1 include the ability to check real-time images during both still and movie recording, a 14-megapixel still image resolution, and 10 fps continuous shooting.
The camera design is in keeping with Ricoh’s rugged WB theme, including large control buttons.
Ricoh has developed a new series of camera-mount accessories, such as a supplied carabiner-equipped strap for easy carrying, and a WG adhesive mount to attach the camera to different surfaces using a powerful adhesive tape.
Optional accessories include a wrist-strap mount, a helmet mount and a magnet mount.